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Nursing home abuse and neglect sadly comes in numerous forms. Infections are among the most common types of neglect and can have severe or fatal consequences depending on the elderly loved one’s health. If an older family member has experienced these kinds of health problems, contact a Westminster nursing home infections lawyer as soon as possible to determine if you could be entitled to compensation.
Mac Hester Law attorneys offer comprehensive knowledge of elder abuse laws in addition to ongoing counsel, support, and legal representation. If your senior family member is one of many who has suffered abuse at the hands of negligent staff, you could bring multiple claims against the offending institution.
The types of infections commonly found in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in Westminster include:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurs when bacteria enters a cut or sore on the skin. If a nursing home resident develops bedsores from being left in bed for days, those sores can become infected and cause serious blood infections without timely treatment. Symptoms can include high fever, rash, headaches, chest pains, chills, fatigue, and warm or weeping skin abscesses.
Pneumonia is a major cause of nursing home fatalities according to the medical journal CHEST. It targets the lower respiratory tract and can be challenging to diagnose in elderly patients. They do not always display symptoms like fever, chills, and coughs, but can become weak, confused, and delirious.
When bacteria enter the urinary tract, including the bladder and kidneys, it can cause burning sensations while urinating, incontinence, worsening dementia, sudden changes in behavior, and confusion among the elderly. Seniors who do not receive enough fluids and require catheters are the highest risk for UTIs.
As with pneumonia, influenza can spread quickly through a nursing home due to lack of hygiene and other improper care. Influenza shares another commonality with pneumonia in that symptoms such as coughing, fever, and chills are not immediately apparent in senior patients. However, those with the flu may act strangely or display one or more of these symptoms.
Other common infections in nursing home facilities include:
Any of these infections could be grounds for an injury claim. It could be beneficial to seek the legal services of a Westminster assisted living facility attorney to determine if a claim for compensation is valid.
Both state and federal laws provide protection for individuals in nursing homes and legal consequences for those who violate the resident’s rights. In 1987, the United States federal government enacted the Nursing Home Reform Act, establishing fundamental rights for senior care facility residents, outlining the standards that must be met for their psychological, social, and physical health.
Colorado has laws protecting seniors as well, which are outlined in Title 26, Article 3.1, Section 102 of the Colorado Code. The law defines different types of elder abuse and discusses procedures for investigating and reporting claims with a local representative’s assistance.
If you believe your older loved one’s infection is due to neglect by the staff of their nursing home or skilled nursing facility, make an appointment with an attorney as soon as possible. Discuss the details of the infection and the circumstances surrounding the case with Mac Hester Law to determine what can be done to shield your loved one and other facility members from harm or provide compensation for the losses experienced.
Contact our law firm to talk with a Westminster nursing home infections lawyer and make it clear your family does not tolerate elder abuse.